Published 4:00 am, Wednesday, February 11, 1998

Pittsburg -- Failure to maintain a pipeline at Dow Chemical led to the February 2 chlorine vapor leak that sickened two workers and triggered the county's community alert network last week, a county investigation has concluded.

"In order for the flange to fail to this degree, (the lapse in maintenance) had to go on for some amount of time," Contra Costa County hazardous materials director Lew Pascalli said.

Rain kept the chlorine from escaping the plant's perimeter. The two workers were treated and released the same day.

Dow spokesman Scott Anderson said officials acknowledge they erred in letting maintenance lapse and are revising the inspection and repair schedule.